POSITION PURPOSE

This position is located at our Headquarters location in Bismarck, ND.

This position is open to varying levels, based on experience. 

Assists in maintaining the enterprise network made up of routers, switches, and firewalls. Work independently, as well as being a member of a highly skilled team of network and security experts. Receive, interpret, and analyze alerts from network devices like routers, switches, and firewalls, based on network packet captures, logs, network flow data, and other relevant sources. Monitor network performance and takes necessary corrective action to troubleshoot and perform problem resolution. A critical resource within the Information Services & Telecommunications (IST) Compliance group and primarily assists in the IST division’s efforts to ensure compliance with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Standards.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

This position is assigned to work in an area of specialization.  The areas of specialization are as follows:

• Route/Switch
• Voice Network
• Wireless
• Firewall

General Duties

• Assist with installation and maintenance of network hardware such as routers, switches, voice network, and wireless equipment.
• Assist with the implementation of security devices, such as firewalls, intrusion detection, and prevention devices that include access control lists.
• Assist with supporting network administration through monitoring tools, protocol analyzers, and trending tools.
• Assists with scheduled maintenance and provide network stability and security through device code upgrades.
• Assists in Network build out, network switching, DNS, DHCP, radius, and SolarWinds
• Assists in maintaining documentation.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Route/Switch

• Assist to build, configure, and deploy network switches and network routers under direction of more senior team members.
• Assist with advanced Data Center routing and switching including but not limited to Policy Based Routing, Application based routing and stretched networks.
• Assist with applying and troubleshooting IP and port-based access lists.
• Assist in configuring, implementing and maintaining Quality of Service “QOS”.

Wireless Network

• Assist in configuration, installation and maintenance of wireless network servers, wireless network controllers, and end point equipment.
• Assist in troubleshooting wireless network issues, including but not limited to signal strength, driver and compatibility issues, and interference issues.
• Work with more senior staff members to understand wireless networking concepts, security, and technologies.

Voice Network

• Assist in configuration, installation and maintenance of voice network servers, voice network routers, cell phones, and iPad equipment.
• Assist in the implementation of equipment, software, security devices such as Call Manager, Call Routing, Phones, Cellphones, VPN’s, Voice and Data Carrier, and Cubes Devices that include Access Control lists, as directed by more experienced team members.
• Assist in supporting and maintaining voice network through monitoring tools, protocol analyzers, and trending tools, under the direction of more experienced team members.
• Assist with troubleshooting and scheduled maintenance of voice network equipment.

Firewall

• Assist more experienced team members in configuring Zone Based and Policy Based Firewall rules and routing.
• Assist more experienced team members in configuring Zone Based and Policy Based routing.
• Assist more experienced team members with troubleshooting firewall related issues, including but not limited to routing, blocking network traffic, and allowing network traffic.
• Configure, maintain, and deploy firewalls under the direction of more experienced team members.
• Assist more experienced team members to build and maintain VPNs.
• Assist more experienced team members in reviewing Firewall logs.  Reporting any anomalies to more experienced team members.
   

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a related discipline; or 
• Associate’s degree in computer science or a related discipline and 2 years of experience in network administration, planning, and configuration; or 
• High school diploma or equivalent (HSED or GED) and 4 years of experience in network administration, planning, and configuration. 
• May be required to drive a motor vehicle and fly in a Cooperative or commercial aircraft.
• A valid driver’s license. 

This position is identified as a Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) related position, which may allow physical and/or logical access to Bulk Electric System (BES) cyber related assets or systems. This position may allow access to privileged information relating to such assets or systems. This position will be required to strictly adhere to all Basin Electric policies, procedures, and programs applicable to the Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) requirements.

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS

This position requires the ability to remain in a stationary position and to move about the office building, occasional reaching below and above shoulder level, constant use of keyboard/computer and other office productivity machinery, bending, kneeling, lifting/carrying up to 10 pounds, and pushing/pulling up to 20 pounds. This position requires the ability to communicate and must be able to clearly exchange accurate information. It also requires finger dexterity and hand coordination. This position spends over 50 percent of the day working at a desk. This position frequently works around chemicals, and occasionally in conditions of dirt/dust, fumes, cold, vibration, noise, poor ventilation, and confined areas, and at heights up to 25 feet.

KEY SKILLS

• Knowledge of techniques for hardware and software engineering, and configuration and production support. 
• Experience with Local Area Network/Wide Area Network (LAN/WAN) and multi-platform environments.
• Ability to demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient with personal computers and Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel. 
• Ability to develop plans, procedures and goals; present information to others; and work under stress to complete projects within deadlines.